The competition allows technical institutions and individuals to test their skills proficiency against that of their peers, and serves as a platform from which to select Namibia’s competitors to represent the country at the next WorldSkills International (WSI) competition, which will be held in the Russian city of Kazan, in 2019.

It is also to include an exposition, in which credible and accredited local and international Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and businesses are going to exhibit their products and skills and share information about their course offerings; and a conference, which is in support of a key engagement objective to bring together on a single platform, local and international industry representatives, TVET institutions and other critical stakeholders to share TVET experiences and debate pertinent skills and economic development issues affecting the sector.

Officiating at the launch, NTA CEO, Mr. Jerry Beukes highlighted that the staging of the event remained dependent on whether the NTA would be able to access the necessary financial resources, as organising an event of this size and magnitude required substantial investment.

“However, we remain confident that we should be able make the event a reality for all Namibians. It goes without saying that it would be less challenging to do so, if we can secure the backing and support of our corporate partners, whom we are asking to meet us halfway in this regard. Their investment will not only be an investment in a very important national initiative, but an investment in our country’s most important asset – its youth, as the leaders of tomorrow”, Beukes stressed.

To qualify for the NSC2018, entrants must first compete in selection competitions that will be held from 27 to 28 April 2018, at selected training institutions countrywide. To give an equal opportunity to all skilled TVET enthusiasts, the selection competitions, and subsequently the NSC2018 will have no age restrictions. However, only competitors that would be 22 years or younger at the first date of the next WorldSkills Competition, which is 22 August 2019, will qualify for selection to the Namibian team to compete in Russia.

Application forms and information can be obtained from the WorldSkills Namibia Secretariat, or any of the countrywide selection competition venues. Application forms can also be accessed through the following websites: www.worldskillsnamibia.na ; and www.nta.com.na